"With backpacking solar systems there is the additional challenge of justifying the additional weight which once again keeps me out of the market."

Then there is the fiddle factor. Nick just doesn't want to have to keep fiddling with all of that stuff, just to keep some electronic device powered up. In general, I don't either, although I have resorted to transporting a big battery brick to keep camera gear powered. However, that was on a trip where the loads were carried by yak, so I didn't have to actually carry it.

It's easy to find technical information about this product or most other products on the internet. When I buy a product I am MORE interested in the real-world experience of the end-user with similar needs and conditions than I am about technical details, and I am not alone. There is more than one way to write a useful review.

I'll bet some of the same people who are complaining about Chad's review would have loved a review with every conceivable technical detail without any in-the-field verification that the thing actually works and holds up.

Again, I used this charger for about 6 months last summer on three different trips to keep my iPhone charged and it worked great. A thru-hike, a three week trip on the Yellowstone River, and a Boundary Waters trip. I used my iPhone a lot. If you leave it plugged in in the shade it will drain power. You should have sun and it should be faced square to the sun. If you do it will charge an iPhone swell. If the battery is very low, say around 15%, it will fully charge my iPhone in about two hours. People can judge for themselves how much sun they'll get on their trip.

Chad gave people useful information in good faith. Chad your odds of pleasing the very technical minded are virtually nill. Write to your audience. Write what you know and don't bluff. Hike your own hike. Write your own blog and let others write theirs.

Re: Re: Re: Re: A review is not a comparison
on 07/14/2013 20:54:09 MDT

With my solar system I just check the water level every couple of months. The panels just sit on the roof and keeps every charged up. Out of sight, out of mind. I like solar, in spite of what other may perceive from my earlier posts.

But.. Right now I have no solar. Thieves stole everything two weeks ago.

If not in direct orientation to the sun output decreases. That is why I have extra capacity on my camper. They lay flat and are not as efficient in the morning or afternoon. Don't want to bother with a system to tilt or follow the sun. Shade is a killer. On most panels shade on 10% of the panel surface area can reduce output by over 50%.